Episode 18: Beyond the Chip

Semiconductors are at the heart of countless electronic devices. Although we often think of Silicon Valley as being built on computer chips, the companies that make the chips often depend upon materials and equipment manufacturers who build the component parts. On today’s show we explore some of the unheralded companies that have made the Digital Revolution possible. CHF’s program manager for electronic materials, Hyungsub Choi, interviews Griff Resor, former chief technology officer at GCA and current president of Resor Associates, on the role of semiconductors components manufacturers. Senior producer Mia Lobel takes us on an audio tour of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. Element of the Week: Silicon.

Credits

Special thanks to Hyungsub Choi for researching the show.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. The music for the Element of the Week is “Cyber War—Heart of Steel,” by Oddsprite. The music for the show identification is “Red Rings,” by Dilo. Underneath the quote of the week is Brian Amsterdam’s “Spiders.”